Dellavedova no wide-eyed kid in NBA

Matthew Dellevadova attributes his confidence in playing in the NBA to his national team experiences. Source: Colleen Petch / News Corp Australia

MATTHEW Dellavedova vowed to never be overawed or starstruck.

Not when he played his first NBA game for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season after surviving a cutthroat selection process that saw him secure one of the last roster spots.

Not even when starting in Miami against a famed Heat side featuring superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

The tough country kid from Maryborough is not the type to go out there wide-eyed with an autograph book in his hand.

His instruction, in part, was to be physical and ruffle some prized feathers.

In short, as former Boomers coach and now Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown described his game, to play with "reckless abandon."

Think Shane Heal shaping up to Charles Barkley in the lead up to the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Dellavedova said it stemmed from a confidence that he belonged in the NBA.

"At the start of the season I was realistic about where I sat on the totem pole," he said.

"I was probably 14th or 15th man on the roster.

"But I believed I could play at that level and it was good to get an opportunity to try and show that."

It is why he never backed down whenever he came on the court, even against the game's biggest names.

"If you're looking up to a superstar and thinking 'Wow, this is cool' then they've already got you beat," Dellavedova said.

"You treat them like any other player.

"Usually that frustrates them because they're used to getting a bit of star treatment.

"If you play hard and play physical, it's usually a good combination."

It says a lot about him that being a part of Cleveland's starting five against Miami does not feature in his most memorable moments of his rookie season.

Mainly because he got in foul trouble early after Wade targeted him and his side suffered a big defeat.

"It was definitely a good opportunity, but we didn't win and I didn't play very well," he said.

"So it doesn't sit up there too highly."

"I guess it helped that I already played against the likes of LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and (Kevin) Durant at the Olympics," he said.

"I think that national team experience really helped me to have that confidence I could play at that level."

Dellvadeova is back in the US training after sneaking home to Melbourne for a breather last month.

He spent his time catching up with friends and family, watching his beloved Collingwood play and shooting around at his old stadium in Maryborough.

"I took a few weeks to think about it and kind of unwind a bit," he said.

"It was a good year and a good start to my NBA career."

The 23-year-old also took time to take yoga classes with his mum and attended local games in Bendigo.

A far cry to what some of his NBA peers get up to in the off season.

"Some of them are sitting pretty comfortable so they can do what they want," he laughed.

"But it's not as extravagant or glamorous as people make out.

"After games you fly back home and you could be getting in at 2 or 3am.

"There's a lot of hectic schedules and time on the road.

"But I love it and wouldn't want to be doing anything else."

When now former Cavs coach Mike Brown signed the Boomers point guard, he referred to him as a "non-athlete."

"I'd bet half my salary I get a dunk before he does," Brown joked.

"But he gets everything out of his body you could hope or ask for. That's all you want."

The Victorian was a rare shining light for Cleveland in an otherwise lacklustre season, in which the Cavs won 33 games and lost 49.

But he promised to not rest on his laurels as he prepares for his second season in the big time.

"My mindset is to get a little bit better each day," he said.

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